Share Wokingham Food-Sharing Project Observes Rise in Demand Three Years after the Pandemic

Due to the rise in demand, a food-sharing project called Share Wokingham has stated that they can now support 2000 people. This volunteer-led project in Berkshire that started during the pandemic, which saw the rise in the cost of living. 

10 tonnes of fresh food which would otherwise be thrown away is distributed to people across England every week. Catering companies, supermarkets and bakeries donate their extra supply. 

In the year 2020, share Wokingham was established for the intention of providing temporary help for people facing hardships during the lockdown. Food that local companies found was surplus to requirements, or had been cancelled due to the onset of lockdown, was distributed to those that needed support. 

Claire Revie the organisation’s founder expected the need for their supply to decrease after the pandemic. Yet, three years into this organisation and the project has expanded to cope with demand, and now has 150 volunteers across the county who help collect, sort and redistribute the food. 

Ms Revie said the project was “not like a food bank, it’s just about sharing what we have.”

Reports collected state, any food that goes out-of-date and cannot be used is given away to feed local farm animals. The organisation asks its users to donate £1 to cover costs, after which people can help themselves to various products like fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and pastries.

People do not need a referral to visit and can collect food without giving their surnames.

One man mentioned, “My partner’s out of work, I’m in cancer treatment and it just helps with the pennies coming here.” Another woman said she had been using the charity since her husband died in March. “It saves me having to get somebody to take me shopping,” she said.

Alongside its headquarters at Norreys Church in Wokingham, the project has 15 “spin-off” community pantries.

Clive Tyldesley, who volunteers in the newest pantry based in Arborfield, said he does not ask about people’s circumstances. He said: “Whether you’ve had unemployment or disability or maybe you have taken on a mortgage which is just a little bit too grand for you at the moment – we don’t ask any questions. The only question I ask is ‘are you okay?'”